Kia is set to significantly expand its electric vehicle lineup. The EV3, EV4, and EV5, priced between $35,000 (₩48.58 million) and $50,000 (₩66.90 million), will be sequentially launched starting next year.
As the electric vehicle market experiences a slowdown, Kia has announced an aggressive lineup expansion.
On the 12th, Kia held its EV Day at the Mime Village in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. Kia’s CEO, Song Ho-sung, stated in his welcoming remarks that “the electric vehicle market is still primarily driven by early adopters,” emphasizing that the high price and inconvenience of charging are reasons that deter potential buyers.
CEO Song explained, “The EV3, EV4, and EV5 are priced between $35,000 and $50,000, which will alleviate the financial burden on electric vehicle buyers.” While the EV6 and EV9 are higher-priced electric vehicles, the EV3, EV4, and EV5 significantly lower the barriers to entry for electric vehicle ownership. Furthermore, he stated that to ease the charging burden on electric vehicle buyers, they plan to complete the installation of 3,000 high-speed charging stations (E-PIT) by next year and will provide home slow chargers to facilitate easy charging.
To align with the expanded electric vehicle production, Kia is increasing its global electric vehicle bases from the current two to eight locations. The domestic headquarters will serve as a global hub for electric vehicle production, with plans to manufacture small and mid-sized electric vehicles in Europe and large electric vehicles for the domestic market in China.
After CEO Song’s announcement, the previously unreleased EV3, EV4, and EV5 models made their debut.
The EV5 was first revealed in March as a strategic model for the Chinese market. Karim Habib, head of Kia’s global design center, praised the design, stating, “We created a strong and dynamic model based on Kia’s design philosophy of contrasting creative fusion.”
The front of the EV5 has been uniquely reinterpreted to fit the electric vehicle version of Kia’s iconic tiger face. The rear of the vehicle presents a robust and solid image.
The EV5 is a compact electric SUV with a spacious interior, featuring a wheelbase of 2,700mm. In the second row, there is over a fist’s worth of space for both knee and headroom. The center tunnel is flat, making it comfortable to sit in the middle of the second row.
The domestic models of the EV5 will be equipped with a 58 kWh battery, while the long-range version will have an 81 kWh battery. Additionally, the 2WD model will feature a 160 kW motor, while the 4WD version will add a 70 kW motor in the rear.
The EV4 features a low hood, sleek tail lamps, and a roof spoiler that showcases its stylish design as a sedan. VP Karim noted, “The movable center console and bench-style rear seats are unique selling points of the EV4.”
The EV3 is geared towards bolstering Kia’s presence in the small electric car market. Vice President Karim described the EV3’s design as “emotionally crafted for enjoyment.” While being a small model, the EV3 maximizes interior space by extending the windscreen forward. The cuter tiger face compared to the EV5 gives it a more approachable image.
The futuristic aesthetic is emphasized through the gear signature lighting starmap while the rear showcases a low rear spoiler that highlights the dynamic character of the vehicle.
The EV3 displays originality not seen in traditional cars. The bench-style rear seats can fold down, providing functionality to accommodate bicycles or bulky items.
With the introduction of the EV3 to EV9, Kia has built a full lineup of electric vehicles, targeting to sell 37% of its total sales as electric vehicles by 2030. Kia plans to launch the EV3 in the first half of next year, the EV4 by the end of next year, and the EV5 in the first half of the year after next.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr